F-1 World Grand Prix is the third N64 game from Paradigm (the same team that brought us Pilotwings 64), as well as the second in a collaboration made with Video Systems (Aerofighters Assault). This game also marks Paradigm's first foray into the racing genre. Paradigm has entered into what is basically uncharted territory on the N64: Open-wheeled racing simulations.

Paradigm's history originally lay within the world of high priced military simulations, until Nintendo approached them to do some work on Pilotwings 64. Then they formed a partnership with Video Systems, with the end result being several N64 games, with more in the pipeline.

For those of you who aren't familiar with motor sports, the Formula One racing circuit is considered by many to possess the world's best drivers. F1 cars are high-powered, open-wheeled cars (meaning that the cars' wheels are not covered by fenders) and all the races occur on road courses (i.e. no NASCAR style ovals). The F1 season is spread out over 17 tracks, ranging from the blazing straight-aways of Hockenheim in Germany, to the mind-numbing curves and enchanting scenery of Monaco. The main object in this game is to win the grand prix season, with the team (and driver) with the most constructor points at the end of the season being the winner. Constructor points are awarded by placing within the top 6 places in each race. Each team has 2 drivers that work together for the benefit of the team, and the points are combined at the end of the season. The team and the driver with the most points, are the team and driver champs, respectively.

The first thing you'll notice about F-1 World Grand Prix is its stunning graphics. Paradigm has modeled each car, track, and nuance of F1 in (almost) photo-realistic detail. Each car has accurate textures, and is modeled according to the '97 F1 season, which Video System has licensed. Even Jos Verstappen's Tyrrel X-Wing’s are here. The track modeling and texturing are almost scary. The tracks are instantly recognizable, and all the real-life billboards and ads are here (sans tobacco and alcohol ads, which are replaced by look-a-likes). The replay mode also looks quite good. Weather effects must be seen to believed. The only graphic problems that occur are some frame rate drops when the game is drawing a lot of geometry. Several viewpoints are available while driving, which is a real plus, and the cockpit view is the best I have ever seen in a racing game .

While the graphics are the first thing you notice, play control is the real highlight of this game. Paradigm's experience with high-end simulations certainly must have come into play here. The physics engine results in an extremely accurate control scheme. The feel and style of driving an F1 car are represented in perfect fashion. Paradigm toned down real-life physics just a tad to make the game fun and playable. (This, of course, is adjusted through difficulty settings).

However, the accuracy of the physics engine/control can be a fault of this game: The game controls well and is accurate as far as the physics go, but for less patient gamers acquainted with drift driving and power sliding, the game can be a real challenge. With a few hours practice, the driving becomes second nature. The game has a steep learning curve that is frustrating at first, but is quite rewarding once the player has some time under his or her belt. The sensation of taking a curve at 150 mph that you had attempted to take at 75 mph and spun out is a real rush.

One big feature of F-1 World Grand Prix is the ability to tinker with your cars. You can adjust several different aspects of your car. Tire types, suspension sets, and wing alterations are among the changes that can be made, with each having a different effect on your vehicle. The game's interface for changing such aspects is quite intuitive, and allows for quick and easy alteration of car settings. The game even graphs out the resulting performance changes. All of this is quite nice for those new to F1 racing.

The sound effects in F-1 World Grand Prix may not be the best in a racing simulation, but they are quite good and add a lot of ambiance to the game. Engine whines, gear shifting, tire squeals, and collision noises are all present, and are extremely accurate. One nice touch is that the sounds are all localized, which means that sounds in the cockpit view sound quite different than those in the third person view. Voice samples are also used in a nice way. During the race, the pit crew chief will give you information about your car, as well as race updates. The speech samples, while limited to a set of various phrases and words, are mixed by the computer to form race relevant info, and this adds greatly to the immersion factor of the game. The music is adequate, but nothing special. It's basically standard, and possibly enjoyable, guitar rock.

The game offers several different play modes, including the obligatory two player mode; the aforementioned grand prix mode, which can be raced to 1997 standards, complete down to the weather patterns from that season; Time Trial mode; and exhibition mode, which is basically racing on any track. One of the more innovative and fun modes in this game is Challenge mode. This is basically a collection of scenarios in which the player must accomplish a certain objective. These objectives are categorized as: defensive -- such as protecting a lead; offensive -- trying to pass a set amount of cars; and Trouble -- finishing a race on worn tires. This mode has several different challenges, and the player is graded on their accomplishments. The game also offers an extensive list of options to choose from, such as weather effects, track conditions, among many others.

As a racing fan, I love F-1 World Grand Prix. As a gamer, I love it even more. The graphics, play control, and longevity all add up to an enjoyable experience. While the learning curve is quite steep, and doesn't pay off immediately, the time spent and experience gained is well worth it. Techies will love tweaking their car to shave seconds off a qualifying lap time. F1 fans will love the accuracy and realism. I recommend buying this game only if you are patient enough to enjoy a sim experience. Arcade fans, and fans of drift driving, will probably be uninterested.